Internal combustion engine



Feb. 9, 1932. 1.. M. wooLsoN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Oct. 14, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l gwuentoz lmNE/Z M. Wu UL saw Feb. 9, 1932. M. wooLsoN 1,844,267

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE- Filed Oct. 14, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 gmenkw L rum-:L M T/X/ u uLs UN 39W @jar MOW/M19 Patented Feb. 9, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIONEL M. WOOLSON, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO PACKARD MOTOR CAR COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICI IIGAN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Application filed October 14, 1929. Serial 1W0. 399,458.

This invention relates to internal combustion engines and more particularly to compression ratio changing mechanism.

An object of my invention is to associate compression ratio regulating mechanism with an internal combustion engine sothat' it can be rapidly varied through manual manipulation. Another object of my invention is to provide a radial type of internal combustion engine with a manually adjustable compression ratio regulating mechanism which is contained wholly within the crank case.

A still further object of my invention is to 3 provide an engine compression ratio adjustx it can be easily adjusted. v

These and other objects ofthe invention will appear fromthe following description taken in connection with the drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which: p

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is an elevational-view of the fore part'of an airplane partially broken away to show my improved form of compression ratio mechanism associated with the crank shaft of an engine; l

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the engine shown in Fig. 1 having the rear case and a portion of one cylinder broken away and showing the association of the compression" ratio regulating the crank shaft;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

And Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the compression ratio adjusting mechanism taken online 4-4 of Fig. 2.

mechanism associated with sectional view Referring now to the drawings by char-' acters of reference, represents generally the forward end of an airplane which includes a multi-cyli-nder'radial type of engine.

A crank case 11 extends forwardly of the" fuselage of the airplane and is provided with a fixed diaphragm wall 12 anda removable diaphragm wall 1'3, such walls 12 and 13- providing a compartment into' which the connecting rods extend-and areassociated with the crank shaft 14 which extends axially through the crank case. Thecrank shaft is of the single throw type and is supported in bearings, one of which is shown at 15 associated with the diaphragm 13. The crank shaft projects beyondthe front end of the crank case and has fixed thereto a propeller 16 which is retained thereupon by a suitable thrust-member and locking means.

The cylinders 17 are arranged radially of the crank case being preferably nine innumber and equally spaced, such cylinders having portions -18 which extend through openings in the wall ofthe annular crank case. The cylinders also are provided with flanges 19 which bear against the outer surface of the crank case and are secured in such relation by a pair of circular bands 20 which are compressed. Such bands also serve the purpose of-absorbing explosion loads from the cylinders and transferring thesame annularly around the crank case, such method of transferring explosive loadsin the cylinders to the crankcase permitting the crank case to be formed of relatively thin walls which will have suflicient strength to withstand the compression pressures and explosions which occur in a Diesel type "of engine.- The crank shaft 14 is referably formed in two sections the forward and a crank pin 22 and the other-end of which includes an arm 23 which is formed so that it can be assembled endwise upon the.

pin 22' andsecured in position by the bolt 24, such type of crank shaft being well known in the art.

With a crank shaft and engine of the character described I purpose "to associate compression ratio regulating mechanism which can be manually adjusted to determine the compression ratio within the cylinders. To this end I providefan eccentric sleeve 25 which is assembled'. by endwise movement end of which includes an arm 21 moved, such eccentric sleeve being retained upon the crank pin by securing the arm 23 in its operative position. Upon the eccentric sleeve I mount the master rod 26 which encircles the eccentric and the rod portion of which extends into the uppermost cylinder. Rods 27 extend. into the other cylinders of the engine and are 'pivotally mounted in a circular relation to the hub of the master rod by pins 28 which extend through the master rod hub and one end of the rods 27.

The position of the eccentric sleeve 25 relative to the crank pin 22 will determine the compression ratio within the cylinders because when fixed in different annular positions with respect to the crank pin, the length of the movement of the rods 27 will vary and in this manner the compression ratio in the cylinders is determined. In order to regulate and fix the position of the eccentric sleeve with respect to the pin 22 I provide mechanism, wholly within the compartment between the walls 12 and 13, which can be manipulated manually. To this end, the cocentricsleeve is provided with an extension 29 to which an eye-bolt 30 is pivotally secured by the pin 31, such pin being secured against axial displacement by a cotter pin 32. A bracket 33 is secured to the counterweight 33, on the removable arm 23 by rivets 32, such bracket extending beyond one side of the counterweight and having a circular bore 34 formed injthe projecting end thereof for' the rece tion of a cylindrical bearing 35. The pro ecting end of the bracket is also provided wit an aperture 36 which extends transversely of the circular bore and is arranged to permit the eye-bolt to extend therethrough. The bearing 35 is provided with a threaded aperture 37 which 1s arranged in alignment with the aperture 36 in the bracket so that the eye-bolt can also pass through.

An internally and externally threaded sleeve 38 is screwed into the threaded aperture of the bearing member and is also screwed upon the threaded end of'the eye-bolt,'such sleeve having the end 39 formed to receive a wrench or similar tool for rotating the same. The internal and external threads of the sleeve '38 extend in opposite directions and with the sleeve 38 will thus transmit a multiplied movement to the eye-bolt 30. As the eyebolt extends through the bearing 35 it cannot be displaced axially of the bore 34 and to secure the sleeve 38 in desired adjusted position with respect to the eye-bolt, I provide a jam bolt 40 which extends through an aperture in the bearing member 35 and can be adjusted to engage against the threaded periphery of the sleeve. The jam bolt isformed of softermaterial than the sleeve so that it will not mutilatethe-threads. f It will. be seen that the bearing member 35 can be rotated within the bore 34 so that the variable angular position which the eyebolt 30 must assume will be permitted, in other words the adjustment of the eye-bolt will change its angular relation with respect to the counterweight and such change of position will be permitted through the similar movement transmitted to the bearing member 35. It will also be seen that rotationof the sleeve 38 will cause the extension 29 and the eccentric sleeve, which is integral therewith, to change its position rotatably with respect to the crank pin 22 and thereby vary the stroke of the piston rods because of-the resulting movement of the master rod hub in a diiferent plane. Movementof the extension 29 downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 2 will cause the eccentric to be moved to a position such that the compression ratio is increased, whereas movement of the extension 29 upwardly will cause a decrease in the compression ratio.

As before stated the engine illustrated is of the Diesel type and operates upon a four cycle stroke. Pistons 41 -'are arranged to reciprocate within the cylinders and motion is transmitted therefrom to the crank shaft by the connecting rods. A passage extends through each of the cylinder heads 42 and air is drawn therethrough upon the suction stroke of the pistons, whereas the exhaust is expelled therethrough upon the scavenging stroke of the pistons. During the compression stroke of the pistons, liquid fuel is sprayed into the compressed air by means of fuel injecting devices 43 which are associated one with each cylinder. 1 A suitable manifold 44 is associated with the fuel injecting de- Vices for supplying them with liquid fuel, such conduit communicating with a source of fuel supply. My co-pending application,

Serial No. 358,899, filed April 29, 1929, illustrates and describes in detail an engine of the character generally set forth herein, and reference may be had thereto for a more complete understanding of the operation of a Diesel engine with which this invention can While a specific embodiment of the invention has been herein described, which is deemed to be new and advantageous and may be specifically claimed, it is not to be understood that the invention is limited to the exact details of the construction, as it will be apparent that changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

'-WhatIclaimis': I

1. In a radial type explosion engine, the combination with the crank shaft and master connecting rod, of a compression ratio changing device comprisingan eccentric sleeve intermediate the crank shaft and the master rod bearing, and means carried-en tirely by the crank shaft for regulating the position ofthe eccentric sleeve upon and fixing it relative to the crank shaft. I

2. In a radial type explosion engine, the combination with a counterweighted crank shaft and master connecting rod, ofa compression ratio changing device comprising aneccentric sleeve intermediatethe crank combination with a counterweighted crank pression ratio changing device closely associated with the vcrank throw comprising an eccentricsleeve intermediate the crank pin and the rod bearing, a movable bearing car- -ried by a counterweight of the crank shaft,

a rigid connection extending between the sleeve and the bearing, and adjustable means securing the connection with the bearing.

8. In a radial type explosion engine, the combination of acounterweighted crank shaft and master connecting rod, of a compression ratio changing device comprising an eccentric sleeve intermediate the crank pin and the rod hub, a bracket fixed to a shaft counterweight, and adjustable mean's'pivoted to the sleeve and anchored to the bracket for positioning the sleeve relative to the crank 9. 'In a radial type explosion engine, the combination with the crank shaft and master connecting rod, of. a compression ratio changing device comprising aflanged eccen-. tric sleeve intermediate the crank pin and member pivoted to the sleeve flange and an- 'the a rod bearing, and a rigid -connecting I chored to the crank shaft, said member being' adjustable "to rotatably vary the relation of the sleeve onthe crank. in.

In testimony whereof afiix my signature.

- LIONEL M. WOOLSQN.

- shaft and master connecting rod, ofacompression ratio changing device comprising an eccentric sleeve intermediate the-crank.

shaft pin'and the connecting rod hub, an eyebolt pivoted to the sleeve, and adjustable means carried by a counterweight of the crank-shaft for anchoring the eye-bolt in a desired position to control the position of the sleeve. 4

5. In aradial type explosion engine, the combination of a counterweight ed crank shaft and master connectingrod, of a compression ratio changing device comprising I an eccentric sleeve intermediate the crank crank pin.

pin and the connecting .rod bearing, said sleeve having a flange, and means connected with the sleeve flange and the counterweight fixing the, sleeve in deslred relation with the p 6.. In a radiali type explosion engine,'the

" combination {of a counterweighted crankshaft-andmaster connecting 7rod, of a comgression ratio-changing device comprisinga anged eccentric .sleeveintermediate the crank ,pin and the connecting rod bearing,

and adjustable means connected with the sleeve'fiange and the counterweight fixing the sleeve in desired relation with the crank pin, said means including motion multiplying- 'me'chanism.y a

7. In a "radial explosion engine, the

figcombination of a counterweighted crank shaft and master connecting rod,-o f a com- 

